Relief as owner opts to restore 9th Avenue building
Ward councillor Martin Meyer is pleased the problematic house in 9th Avenue, Morningside, is being renovated.
NEIGHBOURS adjacent to the derelict property in 9th Avenue Morningside breathed sighs of relief last week when it became evident that work on the property was underway.
Ward councillor Martin Meyer was pleased to report that the owner of the property had opted to restore the building, rather than demolish it.
“No demolition application has been made for the house. I’m very encouraged that the house is being restored rather than being pulled down. I’m just overjoyed to see something happening with this house, as it has been such a problem in the area as it has housed many vagrants. I can’t see anything worse going up than what is currently going down,” he said.
He thanked the CPF and SAPS for their ongoing efforts in raiding the property over the past few months.
The house made the news recently when it was reported that the vagrants living on the property had been linked to crime in the area.
A business in the area told Berea Mail it had been a victim of theft after people living illegally on the derelict property had jumped the electric fence during power outages and broken into the premises.
She said the front house on the same property had been developed, but the other two houses were a problem.
“The house at 78 Madeline Road is also occupied by vagrants who make fires under the derelict gazebo most days. It’s just a matter of time before a fire is going to get out of control and destroy everything in the vicinity. It also has an empty pool which is filled with rubbish and is cause for concern. It is common knowledge that neither of these properties have access to water or ablution facilities and the stench we have to endure is shocking. Besides the drug peddling, we have witnessed prostitutes that frequent these premises too,” she said.
The woman said while she acknowledged new by-laws were to be implemented and the owners issued with fines, she suggested that urgent measures be taken sooner to make the property inaccessible to vagrants and make the neighbourhood safe and pleasant to look at.
Jarrod Evans from the Florida Road UIP said: “We have unofficially been informed that the property at 226 9th Avenue is in the process of being developed. At this stage the development time-lines are unclear. The securing and possible development of said property would be a welcome sight for our neighbourhood, as it has had an enormous negative impact on those living and working in the surrounding areas.”
